[fic] Harbor in the Storm
Author: Semira Words: ~2,000 Characters: Sam, Dean, Max and Alicia (mentioned) Pairing/Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional H/C, hurt!Sam, filling in the blanks the show refuses to fill or even acknowledge, cuddling and touching Summary: Placed after the end of 12.20, when Sam doesn't wake up to Dean frantically calling his name. Sam isn't okay, and there's a laundry list a mile long of reasons why. Sam talks. Dean listens. Actual meaningful conversation happens. Sam might sleep in Dean's bed. There was too much pain and too little casual affection and care this episode, honestly. [Contains 12.20 spoilers!]
Excerpt:
Sam doesn't bother explaining, just tips his chin to let Dean see the livid bruising where the witch's doll strangled him.
Dean hisses. "Jesus, Sam." Callused fingertips run down his neck, lingering over the mottled marks and exerting just the tiniest, fluttering bit of pressure before returning to the wheel. When Sam glances over, his brother is staring at the road again, too intent to be casual. "I guess I know why you didn't mention it, but... man, you gotta let me know if you're really hurting. There's a line when it comes to this kind of thing. A little sore throat is on the sure, okay side of the line, and my-throat-is-swelling-closed-'cause-I-got-freakin'-strangled-nearly-to-death is on the tell me right the hell away side.”
On AO3